Of philadelphia



'2 Sheets-Sheet 1. D. H. DOTTERER.

Car-Axle Box.

No. 67,638. Patented Aug. 13, 1867.

I Witnesses:

. Inventor:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. H. DOTTERER.

Car-Axle Box.

Patented Aug. 13, 1867.

Witnesses= WM fi w lnventom HE'S PROCESS) @nitrh grates istrnt gift.

1). H. DOTTERER,- or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Letters Patent No.67,638, dated August 13, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN AXLE-BOXES AND HANGERS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, H. DOTTERER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improvement in Axle-Boxes, and Hangers for the same; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of an axle-box, provided with trunnions fitted tosliding-boxes, which are adapted to guides formed in the hanger, allsubstantially as described hereafter, so that the box may beself-adjusting to the various alterations in the position of the axle,and so that undue friction, heating, and wear and tear of the journalsand their bearings maybe prevented. A rounded projection on the top ofthe box, adapt ed to a cavity in a saddle which is arranged to slide inthe hanger, permits the box to be self-adjusting without interferingwith the free movement of the usual springs.

My invention further consists in the peculiar manner, describedhereafter, of adapting the journal-bearing to the box, and in asliding-cover, which permits ready access to the interior of the box,the withdrawal of the bearing, and the detaching of the box from thehanger without the delay and tedious manipulation demanded in performingthe same operations with ordinary axle-boxes and hangers.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and apply myinvention, Iwill nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.On reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecification Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved axle-box andhanger for railroad cars.

Figure 2, a section on the line 1 2, fig. 1.

Figure 3, a sectional plan on the line 1 2, fig. 2, and

Figure 4 a perspective view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The hanger A is of the usual form, but has two'vertical and parallelguides formed on'it by ribs a, fig. 3,

each guide being adapted to receive a sliding-block, b, and each blockto receive a trunnion, (1, one of which projects from each side of andforms a part of the box 13, as seen in fig. 1. This box is open at thetop and at the front end, and to the latter is secured the usualdetachable door. A detachable sliding-ccver,f, is fitted to the top ofthe box, in the manner best observed on reference to the perspectiveview, fig. 4, there being on the opposite edges of the cover ribs It,adapted to grooves formed in the inside of the box, this cover beingretained in its place by the detachable door e, as seen in fig. 2.Thevjournal of the axle D is introduced into the box as usual, throughthe rear of the same, where there is a packing, the construction andarrangement of which it will be unnecessary to explain, as it forms nopart of my presentiuvention. A hearing, E, adapted to the journal isintroduced into its place through the open top of-the box, and thishearing has on the opposite sides projecting lugs 7%, which fit snuglyin recesses formed in projections q cast on the inside of the box, asseen in fig. 3. On the top of the sliding-cover f is a roundedprojection, 1n, fig. '2, forming the segmentof a circle struck from thecentre of the trunnions, and this projection is adapted to a concavityin the under side of a saddle-plate, G, which is arranged to slidevertically in the hanger, and between the top of which and the plate :6of the hanger intervenes the spring, shown by red lines in fig. 1, orany of the usual springs employed in connection with axle-boxes andhangers.

' The above-described axle-box possesses several advantages over thoseconstructed and adapted to hangers in the usual manner:

First. The box is permitted to vibrate and accommodateitself to thevarying positions assumed by the axle, and this without interfering withthe free movements of'the spring. It will be readily understood that bythis feature of my invention, undue friction of the axle against thebearing and undue wear and tear and heating of both are prevented.

Second. Access can be readily had to the interior of the box, all thatis necessary being to raise the car just sufliciently to remove theweight from the cover f, detach the door e, and withdraw the said cover,after which the bearing'E may be easily removed and as easilyreplaced,-and the journal and the interior of the box cleansed withfacility. To any one familiar with the tedious manipulation and delaysoccasioned in removing the bearing from and gaining access to theinterior of an ordinary axle-box, the advantage of this feature will beapparent. I

Third. The box itself can be more readily detached from the hanger thanordinary boxes.

Fourth. As the main pressure is exerted on the cover f, all otherportions of the box, excepting where the trunnions and projections g aresituated, may be very thin and light, the lower portion of the boxhavingno other duty to perform than that of containing the lubricatingmaterial. \i

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Artaxle-box, provided with a detachable bearing, E, a curved projection, m,fitting a recess in an adjustable ,"saddle, and with trunnions-d (Zfitted to sliding-blocks b, which are adapted to guides formed in thehanger, all substantially as described.

2. The combination of the rounded projection m on the top of the boxwith a saddle, G, adapted to the hanger, and having a cavity forreceiving the said projection, all substantially as and for the purposeherein set forth.

3. The bearing E, adapted to the journal of the axle, and having lugs orprojections n fitting into recesses in the box as set forth.

4; The sliding-cover f, fitted to the top of the box for Withdrawal fromthe same, substantially in the manner .#described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. H. DOTTERER.

Witnesses:

Ht Howson, JOHN WHITE.

